San Antonio Business Owner Sentenced to 117 Months in Federal Prison
U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney's Office
Western District of Texas
Johnny Sutton, U.S. Attorney
SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS OWNER SENTENCED TO
117 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON
United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced this afternoon that 41-year-old Andrew Maxwell Parker, owner of San Antonio Trade Group, Inc., was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Fred Biery on conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns charges. In addition to the prison term, he was ordered to pay $10 million in restitution, a $1,100.000 special assessment and will serve 3 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
Mr. Parker's lavish lifestyle was financed through fraud and deceit with the American taxpayers picking up the bill. The United States government intends to nail these cheaters anywhere we find them, stated United States Attorney Johnny Sutton.
On August 21, 2008, Parker pled guilty to the charges and in so doing, admitted that from February 2003 to November 2006, he schemed to defraud the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) by stealing millions of dollars in loan proceeds from private U.S. lenders to Mexican business owners and causing multi-million dollar losses to Ex-Im Bank who guaranteed or insured those loans based on false applications and support documentation submitted by Parker. Parker also defrauded lenders in transactions not insured or guaranteed by the Ex-Im Bank.
Parker evaded paying taxes owed in calendar years 2003 and 2004 by disguising account transfers of $588,000 and $816,720.55, respectively. Parker allegedly claimed the money was used to purchase equipment being exported to Mexico when in fact, he used the $588,000 to purchase a house in Dallas, Texas, and the $816,720.55 to purchase two Ferrari automobiles and one Bentley automobile for himself. He also funneled money to relatives, all from nominee accounts. Parker admitted that he willfully under-reported his actual income on his 2003 and 2004 tax returns.
Parker was sentenced on conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and filing false tax returns. He previously forfeited his San Antonio residence at 407 E. Wildwood Dr. and his 2004 GMC Hummer H2.
Assistant United States Attorneys Judith Patton and James Blankinship prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.